Mercado wins tight one; Connor third!

From amasuperbike.com

The Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup ended the Road America weekend on Sunday with a thrilling race that was too close to call until officials checked the photo finish.

After a furious final lap, Argentinean Leandro Mercado and Californian Jake Gagne raced to the checkered flag bumping elbows down the front straight. Ultimately, 16-year-old Mercado, who has been one of the series' fastest riders all year long, won his first Red Bull Rookies race by a scant 0.0019 seconds.

Afterwards, Mercado said, "I didn't know who won the whole cool down lap. I didn't know if I should celebrate or not. Once I got to the podium and saw my dad and Leo (Bagnis) I knew that I did it."

Canadian Emerson Connor rounded out the podium with his best result of the season following a crash in the Barber Motorsports Park opener and a ninth-place result in Sonoma.

Six riders jumped the start and were assessed 20-second penalties, including Benny Solis, the winner of the first two races. However, despite Sunday's 19th place result, Solis still leads in the points due to the series' points system that drops a rider's worst result of the season.

Polesitter Hayden Gillim suffered a poor start but rebounded with a terrific charge through to claim first place on the opening lap. However, the Kentuckian's race was spoiled when he crashed out of the lead in the kink while still working lap 1.

Huntley Nash took fourth with Bermuda's Toriano Wilson fifth. Joey Pascarella, Tomas Puerta, Cameron Gish, Corey Alexander, and Corey Rech completed the top 10.

Race Results (7 laps)
1. Leandro Mercado KTM RC125 19:32.624/86.928 mph
2. Jacob Gagne KTM RC125 +0.002
3. Emerson Connor (Burlington, ON) KTM RC125 +4.289
4. Huntley Nash KTM RC125 +12.028
5. Toriano Wilson KTM RC125 +12.100
6. Joey Pascarella KTM RC125 +12.709
7. Tomas Puerta KTM RC125 +12.722
8. Cameron Gish KTM RC125 +30.508
9. Corey Alexander KTM RC125 +34.053
10. Corey Rech KTM RC125 +34.147

Point Standings
1. B. Solis 100
2. L. Mercado 65
3. A. Dehaven 52
4. T. Puerta 49
5. J. Gagne 46
6. T. Wilson 37
7. A. Medrano 36
8. F. Gillim 34
9. H. Gillim 32
10. H. Nash 31
11. E. Connor 30